Director of Research
In the Ley Group, we specialise in developing new synthesis methods and applying them to the construction of biologically important molecules. Over the years we have completed the total synthesis of many natural products, including: spongistatin 1 (anti-mitotic agent); rapamycin (immunosuppressant); thapsigargin (SERCA pumps inhibitor); azadirachtin (insect antifeedant); and bengazole A (fungicide). In addition to our research on natural product synthesis, we also pioneered flow chemistry and machine assisted synthesis.
For more detailed research information and our publication list, please see our legacy group website.
Completed Natural Products

Publications
Synthesis of the northern hemisphere of the milbemycins using a new strategy for the formation of the C15 to C16 bond.
Tetrahedron Letters
(1985)
26
5837
WITTIG AND HORNER-WITTIG COUPLING REACTIONS OF 2-SUBSTITUTED CYCLIC ETHERS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO SPIROKETAL SYNTHESIS
Tetrahedron
(1985)
41
3825
Total synthesis of the sesquiterpene (±)-hirsutene using an organoselenium-mediated cyclization reaction
Tetrahedron
(1985)
41
4765
PREPARATION AND REACTIONS OF 2-BENZENESULPHONYLTETRAHYDROPYRAN
Tetrahedron Letters
(1985)
26
535
SYNTHETIC APPLICATIONS OF YNES, ENES AND ONES - ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS IN ORGANIC-SYNTHESIS
CHEMISTRY & INDUSTRY
(1985)
101
A new route to spiro-ketals using the Horner-Wittig reaction of 2-diphenylphosphinoxy cyclic ethers
Tetrahedron Letters
(1984)
25
113
NOVEL REARRANGEMENT OF THE IONOPHORE ANTIBIOTIC X-14547A (INDANOMYCIN) AND RELATED DERIVATIVES INDUCED BY LITHIUM TETRAFLUOROBORATE
Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1
(1984)
1761
(doi: 10.1039/p19840001761)
Synthesis of spiroacetals using organoselenium-mediated cyclisation reactions. X-Ray molecular structure of (2S,8R)-8-methyl-2-phenyl-1,7- dioxaspiro-[5.5]undecan-4(R)-ol
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1984)
1371
(doi: 10.1039/p19840001371)
THE USE OF "3-ACETOXY-1-TRIMETHYLSILYLBUTADIENE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF ANTHRACYCLINONE DERIVATIVES
Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 1
(1984)
1847
(doi: 10.1039/p19840001847)
SYNTHESIS OF (+/-)-CIS-6-METHYLTETRAHYDROPYRAN-2-YLACETIC ACID, A NATURAL PRODUCT FROM VIVERRA-CIVETTA, USING ORGANOSELENIUM-MEDIATED CYCLIZATION REACTIONS
JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1
(1984)
2403
(doi: 10.1039/P19840002403)
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